Efforts to Ban Encryption in the 1990s

FBI Attempts to Outlaw Non-Escrowed Encryption

In the 1990s, the Federal Bureau of Investigation played a leading role in advocating the prohibition of encryption techniques that do not ensure law enforcement access to encrypted communications. A principal architect of both the Digital Telephony legislation and the Clipper Chip initiative, the Bureau worked closely with the National Security Agency to inhibit the development of truly secure and private communications systems. Documents obtained by EPIC under the Freedom of Information Act demonstrate conclusively that the Bureau believed that Clipper-type encryption must be mandated within the United States.

California CEOs Critical of Feinstein. 26 High-tech CEOs wrote to Senator Feinstein on January 15 critical of Senator Feinstein's claims that the companies supported her proposed ban on non-escrow cryptography.